How to Help LA

There are no words for the news coming out of Los Angeles, a city that holds a special place in my heart. I attended UCLA for graduate school and got engaged to my husband on the beach just south of Pacific Palisades. We had our first baby at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. What was once my daily commute through beautiful Topanga Canyon now looks like a warzone. My heart breaks for the region, and my many close friends, classmates, and colleagues living there.

I’ve been in touch with loved ones in Los Angeles for the past few days. Snippets from our various conversations paint a wrenching picture. For example, friends shared the following:

I didn’t grab anything. I got scared and left.
They evacuated a nearby nursing home where my friend’s mom lives. I went out today to see a friend and it was just a ghost town with trees and traffic lights toppled over.
This is devastating.
There are fires on our street and lots of ash in the air.

Discounted Quilts for LA Fire Victims

Perhaps someone you know lost their home in the Los Angeles fires. Maybe a loved one is sheltering or caring for others amid the devastation. You could even know someone fighting the fires on the front lines. So many people need love, support, comfort, and resources as the Los Angeles fires rage on.

To ensure my quilts are as accessible as possible to those in need, I’m waiving the setup fee for quilts given to those impacted by the Los Angeles fires. Recipients don’t have to have lost their homes. Simply specify how they have been impacted by the fires in the Occasion field, and enter the code ILOVELA in the Discount field and you’ll be good to go. I would be honored to wrap as many Angelenos as possible in your love and support during these heartbreaking times.

Enter discount code: ILOVELA at checkout to save $199

Give a Quilt

A custom quilt from their support network could contain photos of friends and family, messages of love and encouragement, and uplifting artwork. A quilt is a warm, comforting, and sentimental gift to give during times of need. In the words of Pasadena resident, friend and former colleague, Melissa Wu, “Your quilts are the perfect warm hug for the community. This is an amazing gift.”

A group of friends gave this quilt to a family, following the sudden loss of their home to a fire

This discount is currently valid until February 9 but may be extended. Quilts are currently shipping approximately 2.5 weeks from the day the final image is received.

Other Ideas for How to Help LA

Social media post from Melissa Wu, of Woodlyn Travel. Woodlyn Travel is a full-service, upscale travel consulting company based in Pasadena, CA.

Melissa and her family evacuated during the Eaton fire, but are now safe.

If you’re looking for other ways to provide support, here are some ideas:

Monetary donations: Give directly to a family who lost their home via a site like GoFundMe, or give to a nonprofit organization such as the Salvation Army.
In-kind donations: The Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network (MALAN) has an online directory listing numerous organizations and their unique needs (volunteer hours, in-kind donations, monetary donations, etc.).
Shelter: Offer a room if you have one, or if not, support housing via Airbnb.org
Food: Support the angels over at World Central Kitchen in providing meals.

To conclude, I’m wondering, what did I miss? I would love to hear your ideas for how to help LA and the surrounding region. Do you have ideas for immediate versus longer-term assistance? Let’s be in touch. This is a tender time, and the road ahead is long.

As always, thanks for reading.

Warmly,